I tried unsuccessfully to post this from Santiago on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday. I am now home, it is Friday 29 August and will now try posting from home.
I’ve treated myself to two nights in my favorite hotel in Santiago, the Hotel Rua Villar.
I slept the sleep of the exhausted last night and awakened to – wait for it – rain in Santiago, who would have guessed!
After breakfast I walked up the street to the Cathedral so I could hug St. James and say prayers for my friend’s health and their other special requests. I also prayed for guidance for myself.
When I had finished my visit in the Cathedral, I walked to the St. Francis Monastery for my Cotolaya.
Having completed that, I went for a cup of cafe con leche at Cafe Casino.
And then I went back to the Pilgrim’s Office to meet my chapter’s APOC Chapter Liason, Yosmar Martinez, who is serving in the Pilgrim’s Office.
Tomorrow I will fly from Santiago to Madrid, spend one night there and then fly back to Tucson at 9:35 Thursday morning, 28 August.
The Camino Costa de Morte was tough, but I am proud of my accomplishment. Buen Camino!
Thoughts and Adventures 
Enjoy your blog so much! I leave Tuesday to start my first Camino and am getting so excited! My two friends and I will share a blog (first) and hope you can give us some tips along “The Way!”
http://Www.chixswithstixs.com
Debbie
LikeLike
Yay Debbie,
I’m now a follower of your blog. Ultreia and feel free to give me an email (mlle.du.m@hotmail.com) if you need any “tips” or encouragement along the Way. I’m here for you. I can’t believe it but I have got 6 different routes notched on the handle of my trekking pole now. 6 Caminos in 3 years! I surely have been bitten 🙂
Arlène
LikeLike
Arlène,
the second photo is a really magnificent one, full of emotions, and in your eyes (I don’t know if llok is a correct expression…) I see all the love and the pilgrim’s faith you have. Very lovely picture 😉
You can be proud of this camino.
I hope to see you next time for a new camino…who knows? 😉
Big kisses my cousin
LikeLike
English
Cousin,
Je vous remercie pour tout le soutien que vous m’avez donné avec vos commentaires. Oui, j’espère que nous pouvons marcher ensemble prochain Camino.
Bisous à vous aussi!
Arlène
LikeLike
Welcome home traveler. Did you make any progress in the quest to establish residence in Spain? What’s next.
Believe it or not, i am actually beginning to consider a return, maybe next fall.
LikeLike
Steve,
I’m home for 2 days now and I’ve begun to think about the next one. Maybe Le Chemin Le Puy with my cousin part of the way, maybe the Via La Plata, I’m not sure. But I do know it gets into your blood. Like I always say – Once Bitten.
I’m not so sure about a residence in Spain – maybe it should be in France – or maybe I should just travel a lot. The one thing I do know is I love Galicia. And to have walked to the sea makes my love for Galicia even stronger. I believe I need to be back on the water, that’s where I came from and I believe that is where I need to be.
Talk soon?
Arlène
LikeLike
Hi Arlene, thanks for taking me on a great pilgrimage. Love Cafe Casino, such an “Old World” feel to it and reminds me of all the coffee houses in Austria, where I grew up.
Next time I am in Santiago, I will book myself into Hotel Rua Villar, it looks wonderful.
I have the same question as Steve regarding your dream of living in Spain.
Also, were you able to make contact with Tracy?
So now, you are back and I know what that feels like… Camino of Life… much harder then walking.
Light and Love Ingrid
LikeLike
Ingrid,
The Hotel Rua Villar is fabulous. I believe it is a gem hidden away at half the price or less than the Parador (which I have also stayed in). I will always stay in the Rua Villar from now on. And yes, the Cafe Casino is great, I love the overstuffed chairs against the walls. And let me tell you Steve and I had some positively wonderful ice cream sundaes there in April – yum vino tinto and ice cream sundaes!
I’ve written Tracy an email and am awaiting a response. I’m unsure of Galicia or a place in France. The tax implications for me in Spain are not as favorable as in France. Once I walk the Le Puy or Arles Routes, I will be better able to make a decision.
Arlène
LikeLike
Welcome home, ARLENE I’m in the Bay Area til the 12 of Sept. Would love to have lunch with you when I get back. Eileen
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike
Congratulations on a couple more Caminos under your belt. You look great! Now that you’ve been home a day, have you decided where to next, Miss Camino?
Hugs
Lynda
LikeLike
Lynda,
Thanks. For right now I am hoping to be able to make reservations for the Phantom Ranch down in the Grand Canyon. I’m hoping to hike that during the beginning of October.
My sights are on the Chemin Le Puy or possibly the Via La Plata for next year. I have a cruise to Bermuda scheduled with my son and his family in May, then I am hoping to be able to spend a month on Cape Cod. After that I probably will head to another Camino since I will already be on the East Coast. (You know how horrible the travel is from here on the West Coast and I try to be absent from Arizona during the summer months, if possible.)
Arlène
LikeLike
How exciting it must be to be you!
Hugs
Lynda
LikeLike
Lynda,
It wasn’t always exciting. But once I started living the change I wanted in 2012 (as Bill just wrote in his last post) the world and exciting possibilities opened up for me. Now I look forward to each and every new opportunity to learn, touch, taste and feel, it is amazing how the Universe brings opportunities when you live what you desire.
Arlène
LikeLike
Loved following you on your latest caminos! You must have had a wonderful time. Can’t imagine doing all that you do. Sounds like you really know where to stay in Santiago. Enjoy being back in Tucson. Nancy
LikeLike
Hi Nancy,
The Ingles and the Costa de Morte were more challenging than I had expected, guess I didn’t do my due diligence beforehand. But they were great, I abolutely love the Camino – it has given me a life and for that I am so thankful. Hey, if it wasn’t for the Camino I wouldn’t have formed the Old Pueblo Chapter and I wouldn’t know you and the other members of the Chapter. Thanks for being a supporter and member, Nancy You Rock!
Arlène
LikeLike
Congratulations on completing more Camino treks than anyone I know.
Rest and listen to your soul – you did well! You must be so proud of what you have accomplished.
See you soon,
Yasmin
LikeLike
Hi Yasmin,
Thank you, yes 6 Caminos in 3 years and thinking of which one to walk next. I surely have been bitten, haven’t I? I am proud of my accomplishments, 4 years ago if you would have told me I would walk 500 miles across Spain, I would have thought you should be committed, now I say where’s next. I just love to walk and think and can you think of a better place to do that than the Camino? I can’t!
Looking forward to seeing you again!
Arlène
LikeLike
Welcome home peregrino! Loved your blog. Nancy
LikeLike
Hey girlfriend,
Thanks for following along. You do know that someday I will get you to walk a Camino, don’t you?
Arlène
LikeLike